Ashleigh Ball Posts Gay Fanart Of Rainbow Dash & Applejack Promoting Worldpride 2014

[HUELEN10]

Source

Okay guys, first let's set some ground rules.

1. Please don't flood this thread with fanart; this is not the point of this thread, and the post was posted only because it was not NSFW and it was to have it just incase the original instagram post gets deleted.
   
2. The purpose of this thread is not political issues or civil opinions, but rather how people endorse their views with product or property that does not belong to them.

Thank you.

For those not in the know, Ashleigh is a voice actress who works on many shows, one of which is the popular animated series "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic". In that show, she voices two characters, the ones pictured above actually. In the show, these ponies, like the rest of the main characters, are friends that work together and have adventures, like pretty much any kids show actually. Now, Ashleigh has posted this on her personal Instagram, making a personal political statement using characters that she voices, but doesn't own, to endorse this.

What do you feel about things like this? Personally, I think it's something that is quite unprofessional to do. If you are gonna make a political or civil statement, it should be you making it. I wonder what ramifications, if any will happen. Believe it or not, a similar incident happened a few years back when Nancy Cartwright had a cow and used Bart Simpson to call people up about Scientology. Bart isn't a scientologist, he's a michevious little boy, and AJ & Rainbow aren't lesbian lovers, they're little ponies who live and work in a small town. I don't think that Matt Groening looked to fondly when Bart was used for endorsing Scientology, and I don't expect Hasbro to be okay with voice actors just using their properties to endorse their political or civil beliefs/views either.

I guess I am just used to a certain level in professionalism in this field. When Mr. Martinet was asked to do some lines (and he was doing a lot of lines by the fans) at a local con about console wars, he respectfully said he couldn't do it because it could be viewed as a false endorsement. Same thing with Mel Blanc. In a 60 minutes interview, he was asked to do a line as Tweety or Bugs, but he said he couldn't because they aren't his characters. This is professionalism that I am used to, and can greatly respect.

Have you seen any other examples of things like this happening? It doesn't have to be limited to voice actors and animation either.

 

[Hot Coldman]

this isn't a political statement

 

[wenis]

IP owners will get upset behind the scenes about this (their property being used for such a huge political situation by a voice actor they hired), but publicly to not get taken out back and told to look at the pretty flowers will put a smile on their face and let this "slide".

 

[freenudemacusers]

doesn't seem like a big issue.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

Eh I understand the context, but it's a kids show still. Even if it was a hetreosexual couple kissing, it would still come off as a bit weird to promote it in this fashion.

 

[botty]

Cute, I guess..

 

[HUELEN10]

doesn't seem like a big issue.

The problem is the use of property that isn't yours to promote your point. Let's say you have a very well-known webcomic about school, but one of your staff, a lower-tier blog writer, uses its characters to promote something that endorses something that the comic of yours, your creation, is not about (like for lack of a better example, a specific religion), and without your permission. I'd say that's a problem. Not say this is the exact case from the things mentioned prior, but it's another example of non-official endorsement.

 

[obin_gam]

It's fanart. I dont see what they could be mad about. Celebrities posts fanart all the time.

 

[Aquamarine]

Well, at least it's not the purple pony.

 

[akira28]

wut...worst pony pair ever.

 

[lazybones18]

at least it's not Hansel and Gretel from Black Lagoon....then it would have been weird

 

[Sneds]

How do you know she intended them to be lesbian? They could be bi.

 

[Kangi]

This isn't a political statement, and I think you're vastly overestimating the supposed unbiased professionalism a voice actor of a cartoon pony should portray on her own personal social media account. She did the equivalent of wishing people a happy holiday and posted a piece of fanart relating to it.

I guess I just don't get it.

 

[caesar]

who's ashleigh ball?

 

[kirblar]

Was much tamer than what I was expecting, given the words "Gay Pony Fanart."

 

[jediyoshi]

who's ashleigh ball?

I think the real question is, if someone told you, would you read it?

 

[Monocle]

I too believe the political position that normal people should be treated equally is inappropriate.

Sarcasm aside though, pony romance is weird in any context. The weirdness of the image is somewhat distracting, even though I appreciate the message.

 

[Aquamarine]

Source

Okay guys, first let's set some ground rules.

1. Please don't flood this thread with fanart; this is not the point of this thread, and the post was posted only because it was not NSFW and it was to have it just incase the original instagram post gets deleted.
   
2. The purpose of this thread is not political issues or civil opinions, but rather how people endorse their views with product or property that does not belong to them.

Thank you.

For those not in the know, Ashleigh is a voice actress who works on many shows, one of which is the popular animated series "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic". In that show, she voices two characters, the ones pictured above actually. In the show, these ponies, like the rest of the main characters, are friends that work together and have adventures, like pretty much any kids show actually. Now, Ashleigh has posted this on her personal Instagram, making a personal political statement using characters that she voices, but doesn't own, to endorse this.

What do you feel about things like this? Personally, I think it's something that is quite unprofessional to do. If you are gonna make a political or civil statement, it should be you making it. I wonder what ramifications, if any will happen. Believe it or not, a similar incident happened a few years back when Nancy Cartwright had a cow and used Bart Simpson to call people up about Scientology. Bart isn't a scientologist, he's a michevious little boy, and AJ & Rainbow aren't lesbian lovers, they're little ponies who live and work in a small town. I don't think that Matt Groening looked to fondly when Bart was used for endorsing Scientology, and I don't expect Hasbro to be okay with voice actors just using their properties to endorse their political or civil beliefs/views either.

I guess I am just used to a certain level in professionalism in this field. When Mr. Martinet was asked to do some lines (and he was doing a lot of lines by the fans) at a local con about console wars, he respectfully said he couldn't do it because it could be viewed as a false endorsement. Same thing with Mel Blanc. In a 60 minutes interview, he was asked to do a line as Tweety or Bugs, but he said he couldn't because they aren't his characters. This is professionalism that I am used to, and can greatly respect.

Have you seen any other examples of things like this happening? It doesn't have to be limited to voice actors and animation either.

For-profit Advertisements featuring characters out of their element appear all of the time. The difference here is that this endorsement isn't officially sanctioned by those in charge of the IP.

While I find the message of Worldpride 2014 commendable, I don't think it's appropriate for someone actively involved on the production team to use characters from a licensed, copyrighted show in a serious context while avoiding the desires of the creative masterminds and management at Hasbro Studios, Studio B, and DHX Media.

In that sense, I'd vouch for its takedown. Not as a matter of personal "disgust" or "character integrity" but because the employees on the production team need to follow the initiatives handed down from management while they're committed to a project. I do believe that professionalism should be of the utmost importance here, and making this public endorsement with the characters while completely sidestepping the wishes of the studio crosses that professionalism line a bit.

There is a difference between casually saying a couple of silly lines in a Spongebob voice to a fan and posting a public endorsement of Worldpride 2014 using the characters.

The former is a casual demonstration of Spongebob's voice acting. The latter is using Hasbro's characters in an unsolicited advertisement while being a member of the production staff.

 

[Zelias]

Cute pic and a complete non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

 

[PaulloDEC]

I'm cool with it. MLP itself stands for tolerance and acceptance, so ponies seem like a good vector for this sort of message to me. Ashleigh even chose to only use characters which she herself voices, which reinforces the idea that she's speaking purely for herself.

She seems like kind of a "no-fucks-given" kinda lady to me anyway, so I doubt she'll be losing any sleep over it one way or another.

who's ashleigh ball?

It's right there in the OP, dude.

 

[obin_gam]

For-profit Advertisements featuring characters out of their element appear all of the time. The difference here is that this endorsement isn't officially sanctioned by those in charge of the IP.

While I find the message of Worldpride 2014 commendable, I don't think it's appropriate for someone actively involved on the production team to use characters from a licensed, copyrighted show in a serious context while avoiding the desires of the creative masterminds and management at Hasbro Studios, Studio B, and DHX Media.

In that sense, I'd vouch for its takedown. Not as a matter of personal "disgust" or "character integrity" but because the employees on the production team need to follow the initiatives handed down from management while they're committed to a project. I do believe that professionalism should be of the utmost importance here, and making this public endorsement with the characters while completely sidestepping the wishes of the studio crosses that professionalism line a bit.

There is a difference between casually saying a couple of silly lines in a Spongebob voice to a fan and posting a public endorsement of Worldpride 2014 using the characters.

The former is a casual demonstration of Spongebob's voice acting. The latter is using Hasbro's characters in an unsolicited advertisement while being a member of the production staff.

It's not an advertisement ffs. Its a picture and a happy greeting.

 

[Transhuman]

More than a little creepy, and not because of the whole Brony movement either. In the context of the show these ponies are 3-5 years old no? If it was a picture of Chuckie and Tommy from Rugrats making out, would it be "awwww" or disturbing?

If it was a picture of Shore Leave and The Alchemist from The Venture Bros. I wouldn't have a problem with it. Because they're both sexual mature adults past puberty (and both canonically gay).

 

[PaulloDEC]

More than a little creepy, and not because of the whole Brony movement either. In the context of the show these ponies are 3-5 years old no?

Short answer? No.

Long answer? Dear god, not this again.

 

[Zelias]

More than a little creepy, and not because of the whole Brony movement either. In the context of the show these ponies are 3-5 years old no?

Their ages are deliberately left vague but they're definitely not children. More like late adolescent/young adults from most guesses.

 

[HUELEN10]

It's not an advertisement ffs. Its a picture and a happy greeting.

In all technicality, it's an unsolicited endorsement.

For-profit Advertisements featuring characters out of their element appear all of the time. The difference here is that this endorsement isn't officially sanctioned by those in charge of the IP.

While I find the message of Worldpride 2014 commendable, I don't think it's appropriate for someone actively involved on the production team to use characters from a licensed, copyrighted show in a serious context while avoiding the desires of the creative masterminds and management at Hasbro Studios, Studio B, and DHX Media.

In that sense, I'd vouch for its takedown. Not as a matter of personal "disgust" or "character integrity" but because the employees on the production team need to follow the initiatives handed down from management while they're committed to a project. I do believe that professionalism should be of the utmost importance here, and making this public endorsement with the characters while completely sidestepping the wishes of the studio crosses that professionalism line a bit.

There is a difference between casually saying a couple of silly lines in a Spongebob voice to a fan and posting a public endorsement of Worldpride 2014 using the characters.

The former is a casual demonstration of Spongebob's voice acting. The latter is using Hasbro's characters in an unsolicited advertisement while being a member of the production staff.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Again to those reading this thread, this is not about the views expressed, it's about the use of the characters.

 

[Aquamarine]

I'm cool with it. MLP itself stands for tolerance and acceptance, so ponies seem like a good vector for this sort of message to me. Ashleigh even chose to only use characters which she herself voices, which reinforces the idea that she's speaking purely for herself.

She seems like kind of a "no-fucks-given" kinda lady to me anyway, so I doubt she'll be losing any sleep over it one way or another.



It's right there in the OP, dude.

She's a member of the MLP production staff. That means whatever she posts conveys a certain message. If she posts a very high-quality render of two MLP lesbians kissing, it can be construed as an endorsement of Worldpride 2014 from the production staff...or Hasbro. And that can lead to a lot of unwarranted attention.

That's the problem with these kind of things. It's very easy to represent an employer instead of yourself. Even the slightest connection between the two can be taken the wrong way very easily.

That's why it's best that, while you're still an active member of the production staff, you keep your work life and your personal life 100% separate.

 

[PaulloDEC]

In all technicality, it's an unsolicited endorsement.

Here's a question: Had she posted the picture without the message, would it have been OK? What if she'd not posted the picture, but added something about Applejack/Rainbow Dash in her comment? At what point does it become a problem?

She's a member of the MLP production staff. That means whatever she posts conveys a certain message. If she posts a very high-quality render of two MLP lesbians kissing, it can be construed as an endorsement of Worldpride 2014 from the production staff...or Hasbro. And that can lead to a lot of unwarranted attention.

That's the problem with these kind of things. It's very easy to represent an employer instead of yourself. Even the slightest connection between the two can be taken the wrong way very easily.

That's why it's best that, while you're still an active member of the production staff, you keep your work life and your personal life 100% separate.

Lets be real here though, the show staff communicate with their fans via fanart all the time. The only reason anyone's paying any attention now is because the art in question is slightly controversial (though obviously far more so than it ought to be).

 

[Transhuman]

Their ages are deliberately left vague but they're definitely not children. More like late adolescent/young adults from most guesses.

With the voices of children, aimed at children, with the childlike logic of children I assume?

Short answer? No.

Long answer? Dear god, not this again.

Forgive me if I retread what may be old ground for you, but I did google the question and "3-5 in pony years" was one of the nearest answers.

 

[Chariot]

I don't see a problem here. Well except from people who hates gays and/or MLP.
People often repost fanart, especially for their own show, it's a way to show the support for the fanbase. She is an actress and a musican and not a politican or PR-manager, she can have her own opinion.

I know many people don't like My little Pony, but one reason why this old franchise is relevant again is because the producers interacted with the fans, young and old and encouraged fanworks. I have yet to hear from actual bad influence on children, except people who think that adult Ponyfans corrupt our children. Somehow.

 

[ColtraineGF]

In all technicality, it's an unsolicited endorsement.

Even though it's being directed at someone in the message? Unless @replies mean something completely different in Instagram vs. Twitter.

 

[PaulloDEC]

With the voices of children, aimed at children, with the childlike logic of children I assume?

Yes, the characters are childlike in the way that most characters in children's' programs are. I'd argue that the voices aren't the voices of children, though. There's actual child characters in the show voiced by children.

Forgive me if I retread what may be old ground for you, but I did google the question and "3-5 in pony years" was one of the nearest answers.

No idea where that figure comes from; one of the older versions of the show perhaps? As Zelias said, best estimates are anywhere from teenagers to young adults.

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Some of you are making compelling arguments. I can see where things could get messy but i'm assuming this will just fly by unless everyone makes a big deal out of it.

I see no problem in this though. I dont think i've ever seen VO talent not post fanart stuff.

 

[Chariot]

More than a little creepy, and not because of the whole Brony movement either. In the context of the show these ponies are 3-5 years old no? If it was a picture of Chuckie and Tommy from Rugrats making out, would it be "awwww" or disturbing?

If it was a picture of Shore Leave and The Alchemist from The Venture Bros. I wouldn't have a problem with it. Because they're both sexual mature adults past puberty (and both canonically gay).

No. Ponys are small horses, not young horses.

It's Lauren Faust, original creator of the show.

 

[Horse]

Don't watch theshow but the meaning is nice I guess.

No. Ponys are small horses, not young horses.

Correct.

 

[Aquamarine]

Correct.

I take it that you are a expert in the subject?

 

[Horse]

I take it that you are a expert in the subject?

In regards to Equine stuff?

*nods*

Young Horses are called Foals.

 

[Monocle]

In regards to Equine stuff?

*nods*

Young Horses are called Foals.

What would you know about horses anyway, Horse? I doubt you're even a real horse.

 

[Horse]

What would you know about horses anyway, Horse? I doubt you're even a real horse.

I am a Horse.

 

[Chariot]

Yo, can we stop here before the derail?
It sure is funny, but I am interested in the topic and don't want the thread to be spammed with this joke.

 

[Replicant]

Err what OP? Political statement? LOL.

This is not different than any other fanarts/fanfics on tumblr, AO3, fanfic.net, etc. And maybe you never heard of it but in Japan, Doujinshi, which are comics based on characters from existing properties and focuses on same-sex pairing, is very popular.

I don't see a problem here. Well except from people who hates gays and/or MLP.

This pretty much.

 

[Owlowiscious]

The issue is that someone representing a company made a message using something related to that company.

I'm too tired and stupid to go beyond that.

 

[Mysterious]

The issue is that someone representing a company made a message using something related to that company.

I'm too tired and stupid to go beyond that.

yup like if bill trinen used mario and luigi to promote gay marriage, NCL would have a problem with it

 

[MarkMclovin]

Not sure if this thread will fly off the handle or not.

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

In all technicality, it's an unsolicited endorsement.


I think you hit the nail on the head. Again to those reading this thread, this is not about the views expressed, it's about the use of the characters.

And I agree. Has there been any word on her job status?

It's not an advertisement ffs. Its a picture and a happy greeting.

Her link to an issue clouds it. Her hash tags link it together. If she would have posted the picture only, with her signature, it may not have been a big deal.

 

[Chariot]

The issue is that someone representing a company made a message using something related to that company.

I'm too tired and stupid to go beyond that.

yup like if bill trinen used mario and luigi to promote gay marriage, NCL would have a problem with it

Ashleigh Ball is a voice actress and singer for the show, not in management or PR. This is her personal twitter account and she reposted a picture that would fall by law into parody of the show, if I'm not wrong.

You people should leave Ashleigh alone and look at what Tara Strong is posting, there I can understand some outrage, since Tara occasonally post NSFW fanart material.

 

[Lord British]

This is fairly benign and a cute picture, but I hope that bronies won't use it as another excuse to posit their "oppression" as on the level of homophobia/racism.

 

[akira28]

Who cares? I would dare Hasbro to generate bad some publicity by punishing their VA.

I wonder if any see a way to equate this to some other issue under freedom of speech or using their media presence to support a cause that they believe in, but it's unfair because it's a "liberal" cause instead of something like guns and anti-government, or non-PC speech?

 

[Famassu]

More than a little creepy, and not because of the whole Brony movement either. In the context of the show these ponies are 3-5 years old no? If it was a picture of Chuckie and Tommy from Rugrats making out, would it be "awwww" or

A pony is fully grown at around ~4 years...

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

Who cares? I would dare Hasbro to generate bad some publicity by punishing their VA.

You don't have a problem with that implicit threat?

 

[Chariot]

This is fairly benign and a cute picture, but I hope that bronies won't use it as another excuse to posit their "oppression" as on the level of homophobia/racism.

Sure some will, but despite the usage of the term Brony, madult My Little Pony fans are not a singleminded entity. The fanbase it's huge and has perverts and strange people in it, but so dies any other fanbase. I know it's usual to judge a group of people who share a common interest by their worst, but the hate on the Bronys and resulting the hate on the show itself is ridicilous at times.